CHAPTER NINE
I reached the patio, and to my surprise, my grandmother stood on the other side of the glass, peering out. She opened the door and left it open, letting me know that Percy hadn’t stayed at the gazebo.
Her expression sharpened on me, and I moved to leave the room.
“Wait,” she called out, then came over and clasped my arm, “What happened? —”
“Don’t you know?” I chided, pursing my lips. My conscience warned me about my attitude, and I couldn’t stop myself. Not after the way Percy treated me like some dirty whore he got stuck with. I was sick of their schemes and fake outrage when things went as they expected.
She dropped her hand. “I don’t know….” Her voice trailed off.
Click. The sound of the door shutting caught our attention just as Percy walked in. He adjusted his shoulders and straightened his jacket, putting his friendly gentleman mask back in place. “Constance, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be riding with Reg?”
Grandmother still had on her riding trousers and boots. She lifted her chin and stood taller. “We cut our ride short. I came to check up on Adelina since she’s been unwell.”
“You’re not unwell. Are you, Lina?” Percy said in a syrupy voice. “Just a little too spoiled. Nothing I can’t straighten out.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, my face warming.
“What did you do to my granddaughter?” she snapped.
I glimpsed him as he gaped at her, indignant. “You know I don’t have to answer to you .”
My grandmother paled but stood firm in silence, and I held my breath.
Percy finally snorted. “I did nothing untoward, Connie . Adelina can attest to that.”
Her eyes met mine.
I shook my head in agreement with him.
Percy tutted and placed his hands on his waist. “Now, Reg didn’t send you here to meddle. You run along now, or were you supposed to tell me something?”
She eyed him coolly. “Reginald’s waiting for you in his office.”
“Thank you, Constance.” Percy beamed at her and held out his hand. “Well, that’s my cue to go. Lovely to see you again.”
She politely shook his hand.
My stomach churned.
Percy moved to stand in front of me. “I understand you’re upset you’ve been fooled by Rocco Marini and may have misconstrued my frankness as rude. However, I believe honesty is the best to build a marital partnership. Have a good afternoon, ladies.”
He leaned close and to my utter surprise pressed his lips to mine.
I stiffened, but didn’t fight. We all knew I could do nothing about it.
Percy sucked on my bottom lip, then broke away chuckling. “Mmm, like cotton candy. I knew you’d taste sweet. See you very soon, Adelina. Constance.” He strolled out of the room.
My face burned and I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
Grandmother stepped in front of me. “Tell me the truth. Did something happen.”
I pursed my lips. “What does that matter? —”
“It matters,” she interjected, her tone abrupt.
“Why? Are you going back on your word again?” I hissed, glaring. “Or do you regret telling Percy to take me for a sexual test drive?”
She slapped my face. “Enough. I will not tolerate any more of your disrespect. We didn’t permit Percy to do anything but talk to you.”
I bobbed my head and ignored the sting on my cheek. “Then why are you here? Why did you ask him what he’d done?” My voice broke.
She stood there stiffly and didn’t utter a word. But she’d done the same as I’d done when I couldn’t handle the truth. If Percy had forced himself on me, I doubt it would have been a dealbreaker for them. Money and legacy mattered more. And that was what scraped my heart raw. All the years of trying to be perfect and obedient for them to love me never mattered.
I blinked rapidly. “You don’t care about me. Neither of you do. All I did was try to become like you, hoping one day you’d love me and welcome me as one of your own. But now I realize you’ll never love me or my children. We’ll never be a part of your family.” My voice shook, and I covered my mouth to suppress a sob, quickly left the room, and didn’t stop until I reached the bedroom. I leaned behind the door and took in a staggered breath. I can’t take it.
A car’s engine started outside, and relief washed over me. Percy was gone, but for how long? My grandparents had condemned my life to a man who would, without doubt, control me. Heck, he treated my grandmother like a girl even though she was twice his age.
Percy made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want or respect me. I could handle his belittling me, but never my family, especially Mama. With all that she endured, it wasn’t surprising that she had a mental break. Percy’s callous gossiping made it clear that he had no empathy, not even for Jacob. He’s going to move him away from his family.
I paced my room, my head pounding. My feelings never mattered. Neither had my mother’s or grandmother’s. She suffered, too. And why am I always the last to know about my family? Grandmother had premarital sex with Luca? Were they in love? And my grandfather married her after her miscarriage?
Had Luca betrayed her? Knowing what I knew now, Percy had been right about love not being important in a marriage. What you gained from it mattered most . I hate him . And maybe my grandmother hated my grandfather, too. Still, they became partners trying to fight destiny for Mama, but my father ruined her. And she got stuck with Glenn . Rocco used and left me, and I sealed my fate with my eyes open.
Percy was right. I’ll marry him.
Hot tears poured out of my eyes, and I buried my face in my hands.
Knock.
“Who is it?” I called out.
“It’s just me, Patricia. Percy Sterling is gone, and I’ve been sent to clean your room.”
“Uhm, yeah, okay. Come in,” I called back.
Patricia walked in and she went straight to work organizing things in my room. I wanted to be left alone. But the last thing I wanted to think about was marrying Percy. Why had my grandfather encouraged me to risk my prospects by having sex? Grandmother had been completely against it.
But in the end, I was the one to blame. I gave myself willingly to Rocco.
My stomach lurched, and I rushed into the bathroom. To my surprise, Patricia was inside.
She glanced up at me, and dropped her head. “I’m sorry, Adelina. I was told to…”
I walked over to the double sinks. “What are you doing?”
Her hand trembled as she held out a smashed box in her hand.
I rushed forward and clasped it. It was my birth control pills. “What are you doing?”
Her expression turned sympathetic. “WhatMrs. Belfiore asked. I’m sorry.”
“I see. Please leave,” I said to her and kept the broken box in my hand.
I didn’t blame Patricia. She worked for them. But how dare my grandmother send her in to destroy my birth control. What could possibly be gained by this? Did they honestly think if I was pregnant Percy would keep Rocco’s child?
Or was it to make Rocco stay with me?
Rocco. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to block him from my mind. But all I could see was him holding me. Had he really used me? After all we shared together, could he truly be this cruel? My heart ached, and my stomach churned. Being away from him did give me some much-need but unwanted clarity —he’d pretended well, but our match never made sense. He’s a billionaire celebrity heir. He’ll marry an heiress with more money and a better name.
I swiped my wet cheek.
He has already let you go, Adelina. Guard your heart and move forward.
My birth control only had the placebos, and I grimaced as fear choked my throat. Had I taken one of them since I left Italy?
My mind was scrambled with arriving here and Cassidy’s visit. I saw myself taking them regularly . Or am I thinking I have?
I returned to the bedroom and did a quick search online. My stomach sank. Semen can live in a woman’s body up to seven days. I took a deep breath. Perhaps I’m paranoid . Yet, I needed to replace them.
But how? I had no way of getting out of here unseen, and I’d need my prescription… that Isla has. Shit. Isla. In losing Rocco, I no longer had access to her. But should I try her anyway? Would she help me, or would she have thrown me away too? All I could do was try.
I picked up my phone to text Isla.
Adelina: Hi, Isla. Can you pick me up something after the funeral?
Perhaps she wouldn’t mind doing one favor for me before I left. A few seconds later she texted back.
Isla: Of course
I took a few deep breaths and calmed down. I’ll be okay. But what if she tells Rocco? He’d think I was irresponsible or even worse trying to have a baby to keep him. I couldn’t care. It’s my problem now.
Despite everything, I would go to the funeral and say goodbye to Luca Marini. Whatever his reasons were, he’d been a friend when I needed one. That would never change.
At least I know Percy doesn’t like me . It’s better this way. We work as partners with a common goal and not get caught up in our feelings. But the thought of his family all smiling and laughing, all the time thinking of me as trash. I can’t bear it. But I knew I would endure. Resilience was still my superpower. Jacob and I would survive. That’s what matters .
I found a bottle of sleeping pills and took two. I needed rest to find a way to face all that was ahead. If I’d known the threat, I’d never have gone away or slept with Rocco. I’d fallen under his spell and gave him much more than my body. How could he throw me away? I never knew him.
Chime, my phone rang.
I let it go to voicemail, and two seconds later, it started ringing again. Someone was persistent.
I picked it up and answered without looking.
“Hello? Who is it?” My tone coarse.
“It’s Rocco.”
I closed my eyes, my heart pounding so hard it filled my ears. His voice took me to that distant place where a different future lived. But now, reality had shattered those dreams. It was a painful realization that I had to accept.
“Adelina? Are you there?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes, I am.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you care?” I croaked.
“Of course I do—”
“You barely called—”
“I should’ve done better and I’m sorry. I’ve had little sleep… Your grandparents told me you’ve seen a doctor and needed rest. Is that not true?”
“No, it’s not,” I said evenly.
“I’m sorry. How are you feeling, Bella? Tell me, please.”
He sounded so concerned, and a bit annoyed. He has no reason to be annoyed. He hasn’t reached out to me via text…just like Percy said. I tried to focus my breath to calm my racing pulse. Just hearing his rich baritone lifted my spirit. But I had to remind myself none of it was real . He’s never going to marry me. “I still don’t understand why you’re calling now?”
He scoffed down the line. “What do you mean by why? The funeral Mass is tomorrow.” His voice was weighted with burden.
I sighed heavily as I’d spoken more harshly to him than I meant to. “Sorry, I’ll be there. Uhm, we’ll all be there. What time does it start?”
“11 a.m. I’ll have a talk with your grandparents, too. We’ll get the wedding in a few months. Work it out. Don’t worry.”
My heart sank. A few months? There was no way they would agree to that or let me leave with him. Besides, even if I went with him, it wouldn’t last. He’ll never marry me now that he has a choice. What a difference twenty-four hours could make. When I was with Cass, I had still tried to hope. But since she’d gone? It had been reinforced that my life was not my fucking own. “You’re just a pawn for Rocco’s desires. You’ve got nothing to offer a man like him. He fucked you because you’re easy, but he never planned to keep you.”
Rocco never planned to keep me.
Before I met Rocco, I’d accepted my fate, and I could do so again. So, even if this felt like agony, it was thinking about Jacob that gave me strength.
“No. I don’t…I don’t want to go back with you.” I closed my eyes and dug the beds of my fingertips in my hand.
The line went silent, and my heart contracted.
“You don’t mean that. Shit, I knew I shouldn’t have let you go back there.”
“I chose to go with my grandparents, and I’m going to…to marry Percy Sterling—”
“What the fuck are you talking about—”
“I said I’m going to marry someone else, Rocco, so you’re now free to marry whoever you want. Okay?” I choked and hung up before I said something more or he could make more false promises. Dropping to my knees, I sobbed down on the carpet as the ache in my heart took hold and spread.
I hated Rocco at that moment for turning my world upside down and filling my head with things I’d never have. For occupying my every thought of happiness. For looking at me like I was all he could ever desire, and claiming my body as his own. How I wish I hadn’t fallen so recklessly for him, making me yearn for his love to be mine alone. I’ll cry, mourn, and somehow move on. But I’ll never forget his cruelty.
I woke up before my alarm, showered, and went to my closet. In all my brooding, I hadn’t checked if I had something to wear for the funeral. To my surprise, there was a garment bag on a rack I hadn’t seen before. I opened it and found a black crepe satin dress, and heels. Inside was a handwritten note tied to the hanger from Nadia Crane.
Nadia had been nothing but kind to me. I would thank her for her friendship, but I doubted it would last past today. She was Rocco’s friend.
I changed into the dress for the funeral. I had just managed to fasten the back of it when raised voices sounded from somewhere in the house. I couldn’t make out what they were saying. I tied my hair back and padded out into the hall.
“This is unacceptable. You’ll have to call the police to throw me out of here.”
It was Rocco yelling. What was he doing?
“We’ve made other arrangements for our granddaughter. As our contract states, any delays void the agreement.”
“We’re holding a funeral—”
“And that’s not exactly what the contract says, Mr. Belfiore. We can enforce our part, too.
I see a Marini Spa retreat on this land. What do you think, Rocco?” a male voice mused.
“I’ll take it all, and Adelina.”
I touched my chest that went tight.
“Over my dead body,” Mr. Belfiore shrieked. “I don’t want you here in my home. Get out.”
I moved quickly down the stairs and slowed to a stop a few steps from the bottom. Rocco stood in all black next to a handsome blonde male in a charcoal grey suit, his expression amused, and he shifted his eyes to stare directly at me.
Rocco turned his head, and my heart jumped into my throat. His gaze bore in and locked.
The pained look on his face broke the heart he had already shattered. It broke the walls I had so carefully erected my entire life. These feelings he arose in me were tearing me apart and I had no way to hide them.
“ Per te farei di tutto, mia Bella ,” he said in a deep voice that was a sweet caress.
I clasped my burning throat, my eyes filling. Rocco said in Italian before everyone that he’d do anything for me. His, Bella. Did he really mean it? Or did he still need me for something? I hated that I had to doubt it all. I hated that I couldn’t take that romantic profession and wrap it around myself in comfort. But even his declaration wouldn’t go far now. He delayed and broke our contract. I was now promised to Percy. So why is Rocco here?
“Did you hear me? I want you gone,” Mr. Belfiore yelled at him.